Tag Archives: Battle Machines

Front Design

Posted by santosj on September 2, 2006 Comments Off

New Design

I just paid for a new design for the front site, I don’t think it will be used in the actual game yet. I’m going to update the front design to the new one before I do any other elements on this section.

The new web pages will include:

  • Screenshots of the internal game pages.
  • Game Help and FAQ (Dynamic)
  • Game Features and contributions of developers
  • Developer Pages

As well as current pages:

  • Register
  • Sign In
  • About (Really the developer Pages)
  • Terms and Conditions (Really just rules about Game Play)
  • Updates

Base Code

I want to take some time to create a base for which all other code will work off of. I’m not going to use a template engine for the game. I mean more with the use of functions and objects over embedding all of the queries and functionality into the pages.

I will try to use more functions where I should and use objects where it makes sense. I’m not going to use database access abstraction classes.

MVC Design

I’m going to make the front pages over to “pretty URL” project design. I just hope it doesn’t conflict that much with the other game pages.

I’m also going to move the config to below the public folder for a plan move to SVN to handle the changes. All developers are going to have to contribute using SVN. Which will have a testing directory set up to test changes.

Changes to Current Pages

1. Register

Really, I’m not going to do any real changes until after I’m done with Gamehole. What I plan on doing is adding new options for IM information and adding an avatar on register.

I also plan on switching the password mechanism over from PASSWORD to AES_ENCRYPT. That would have to be done on this page also. The user will also automatically be authenticated for the current session, so that they can see what the game is about before activating. Afterwards, they can either activate or just delete their email and let the account expire.

2. Sign In

Sign in will use the new AES_ENCRYPT authentication.

3. Forgot Password

Forgot Password will use AES_DECRYPT to send the current password to the user.

4. The About Developer Pages will get their own individual pages, as well as SVN commits.

I want to list how much work a developer has done working on the new site, as well as commits. This should also include:

  1. Number of commits.
  2. The date of the last commit.

This would give some indication as to how much each developer is doing on the project.

5. Changes to Forum Software

I’m going to use a new forum package to replace the one that currently exists in the game now. I will most likely include bbPress as an replacement. Since it is still in alpha, it might cause some unforseeable problems. It should still function fine for what it is going to be used for. I want to try to add in basic Bug Tracking support to the system, then add in to the commit system a way to close bugs in the forum.

The forum will also be available to the public, but only members will be able to post in most forums.

The owner wants “internal” forum management, but I hate the Gamer’s Fusion engine forum with a passion and seek to replace it. The only way I can do that is if I can work bbPress into the game and enhance it, to make the owner happy and myself happy.

6. Updates

Updates will include commenting support, as well as some other feature support. I may link the updates to the forum, to simplify the amount of work I have to do to maintain the total feature set.

Help Pages

The current game needs to be documented and any changes need to have the documentation revised to match the changes. I would also like to have screen shots where possible. The FAQ dynamic pages will be for current gamers, where they can ask questions and then it will be categorized and added to the list of questions. If possible, the questions may also be added to the main help documents.

Screen shots of the current game and future revisions need to also be available for potential players to let them see the game feel before they play.

Development Log

I want to link the Subversion commits to a public page to let people know that the game is still be developed and what has changed.

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